The Phoenix and the Turtle

The Phoenix and the Turtle sets a poem by Shakespeare published 1601 that uses the metaphor of a bird's funeral to describe the death of an idealistic love. Watkins spins out a jazzy melody surrounded by close harmonies using the text to create a lively, rhythmic opening. The textures and rhythms settle into homophonic movement as the chords open ever outward in a slower middle section, before resolving onto a solemn ending in unison.